30 apply for Manatee schools superintendent

Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 11:04 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 6:12 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY - With the deadline for applications ticking down Wednesday, one education leader said he was impressed by the final list of 30 names who are seeking the open Manatee County Schools superintendent post.

Facts

THE APPLICANTS

Here's a list of the 30 people seeking the superintendent's job at Manatee County Schools. The deadline to apply was Wednesday afternoon. The district did not make the entire applications publicly available:

Diana Greene, Ocala

Arthur Gottlieb; Queensbury, N.Y.

Kathleen Harris; Shreveport, La.

Steve Black; Venice

Bernard Osborn; Miami

Rolston Cordner; Sarasota

Anna Rodriguez; Miami Springs*

Wanda Rosario-Schoenfeld; Lockport, N.Y.

Kathy LeRoy; Jacksonville

Joanne Calabro; New Jersey*

Carey Wright; Washington, D.C.

Luis Gonzalez; Harrisburg, Penn.

George Spagnola; Bradenton

Dennis Albright; Sutton, W.Va.

Anthony Messina; Jr., East Patchogue, N.Y.

Richard Murphy; Clewiston, Fla.

John Carvelli; Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Rick Mills; Minneapolis

Steven Cobb; Fort Wayne, Ind.

Fred McDowell; Medford, Mass.

Constance Jones; Estero, Fla.

Carlas McCauley; Arlington, Va.

Pam Stewart; Tallahassee

Jayne Morgenthal; Naples

Chris Quinn; Stafford, Va.

Nancy Farley; Bradenton

Harry LaCava; Vero Beach, Fla.

Nancy Graham; Fort Myers

Carlos Martinez; Bethesda, Md.

Edmond Heatley; Jonesboro, Ga.

*The district has not received this person's application

“Overall, those 30 names, you got some exceptionally strong candidates,” said Wayne Blanton, the executive director of the Florida School Boards Association, who is helping with the search. “I'm very pleased. . . . I think we're in pretty good shape.”

The School Board is seeking to replace Tim McGonegal, who resigned abruptly Sept. 10 shortly after he revealed the district overspent $8 million and hired teachers not accounted for in the budget, among other financial problems.

The list of names included: Pam Stewart, the state education commissioner; Kathryn LeRoy, chief academic officer at Duval County Public Schools; and Constance Jones, a finalist for the superintendent job at both Pinellas and Palm Beach county schools last year.

The only job-seekers who applied locally were Steve Black of Venice; Rolston Cordner of Sarasota, and George Spagnola and Nancy Farley of Bradenton.

Half of the applicants were from Florida. Others hailed from as far away as New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

Blanton said he had expected about 25 people to apply for the post.

Manatee school officials did not make the applications publicly available after the deadline passed Wednesday afternoon or provide more information.

The next step is for Blanton and a community search committee to each narrow the list down to their five favorite candidates. Afterward, they will convene Jan. 30 to develop a single list of finalists and then present that to the School Board the next day.

Ultimately, the School Board will interview the top candidates and is expected to make a hiring decision next month.

Blanton said the new superintendent is expected to start April 1 and resume control from interim superintendent David Gayler, the former leader of Charlotte County Schools.

The superintendent position will pay between $170,000 and $195,000, depending on experience.

As the district deals with its budget problems, the next leader should be familiar with the state's education system and be visible in the county, said Harry Kinnan, who retired from the School Board in November after 16 years.

Kinnan also said the new superintendent will need a strong understanding of school finances and must unite the community and the district.

“The board has to have confidence in this new leader and coalesce around them,” said Kinnan, 70, who graduated from Manatee schools along with his wife and three children. “The community and all the employees are anxious to have someone they can rally around.”

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - With the deadline for applications ticking down Wednesday, one education leader said he was impressed by the final list of 30 names who are seeking the open Manatee County Schools superintendent post.</p><p>“Overall, those 30 names, you got some exceptionally strong candidates,” said Wayne Blanton, the executive director of the Florida School Boards Association, who is helping with the search. “I'm very pleased. . . . I think we're in pretty good shape.”</p><p>The School Board is seeking to replace Tim McGonegal, who resigned abruptly Sept. 10 shortly after he revealed the district overspent $8 million and hired teachers not accounted for in the budget, among other financial problems.</p><p>The list of names included: Pam Stewart, the state education commissioner; Kathryn LeRoy, chief academic officer at Duval County Public Schools; and Constance Jones, a finalist for the superintendent job at both Pinellas and Palm Beach county schools last year.</p><p>The only job-seekers who applied locally were Steve Black of Venice; Rolston Cordner of Sarasota, and George Spagnola and Nancy Farley of Bradenton.</p><p>Half of the applicants were from Florida. Others hailed from as far away as New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Indiana.</p><p>Blanton said he had expected about 25 people to apply for the post.</p><p>Manatee school officials did not make the applications publicly available after the deadline passed Wednesday afternoon or provide more information.</p><p>The next step is for Blanton and a community search committee to each narrow the list down to their five favorite candidates. Afterward, they will convene Jan. 30 to develop a single list of finalists and then present that to the School Board the next day.</p><p>Ultimately, the School Board will interview the top candidates and is expected to make a hiring decision next month.</p><p>Blanton said the new superintendent is expected to start April 1 and resume control from interim superintendent David Gayler, the former leader of Charlotte County Schools.</p><p>The superintendent position will pay between $170,000 and $195,000, depending on experience.</p><p>As the district deals with its budget problems, the next leader should be familiar with the state's education system and be visible in the county, said Harry Kinnan, who retired from the School Board in November after 16 years.</p><p>Kinnan also said the new superintendent will need a strong understanding of school finances and must unite the community and the district.</p><p>“The board has to have confidence in this new leader and coalesce around them,” said Kinnan, 70, who graduated from Manatee schools along with his wife and three children. “The community and all the employees are anxious to have someone they can rally around.”</p>